5 Weeks, 5 Races, 1 Fool! (that would be SeniorRunner, NOT JJ)

He fails to recognize the wisdom of "everything in moderation," and "one's reach shouldn't exceed one's grasp."

First, you may wonder why I am writing his RRs. Well, he was badly bummed out by Boston, and feels his running efforts are trivial in the light of the tragic events there. JJ, on the other hand, considers nothing too trivial for his attention, in fact, he REVELS in the trivial!.

I've reminded him that ALL our efforts are "trivial" in the ultimate sense, but that they can be miraculously transformed into something special if we accept them and even celebrate them.

Truth is, he's pouting because his first race in this recent series was a major disappointment.

Actually our story starts in Boston...

SR and the Mrs. recently went there on a week-long business trip (hers, not his) that overlapped Boston Marathon weekend. And they joined the magnificent BM Loopsters on the eve of the race for food, fun, and frolic.

Of course we are well aware of the horrific events that transpired the following day. Mr.& Mrs. SR were safely watching the race on Heartbreak Hill, six miles from ground zero, but soon learned that the real heartbreak was at the finish line.

As a result of this experience, SR decided to have a go at a local BQ qualifier three days after returning to Iowa. Though he had signed up a while before, training interruptions had led him to realize that he should downsize to the half. But he also knew that this was probably his last chance to get a qualifying time for next year's race, so he gave it a shot.

It wasn't a totally unrealistic dream. He had the motivation, and if the weather was good... BUT...

RACE #1 Marion Marathon, April 21

"Banglus prematurus"

The weather was atrocious. Temps were OK, starting in upper 30's and warming to mid-40's, but the winds were in the 20-30 mph range. SR swears there were gusts where his legs were moving normally but his body was going backward! And for a brief period near the start, it sleeted!

He pushed it for the first half, maintaining a BQ pace. But he developed a crotch cramp and still had the worst of the headwinds in the final 6 miles. In a word, it was ugly. The only saving grace was meeting another SR, Jeff, and the two old farts had a jolly old time whimpering and moaning in the gale!

This time Mother Nature provided perfect weather, affording at least partial redemption. SR's performance was marked by two oddities, however.

First, his time was 26:32, which equaled his last year's best time, in the same race, TO THE SECOND!

Second, this year's 26:32 was FASTER than last year's, proven by the fact that it gave him an Age Group 1st out of 11 runners. Last year the same time was only good for a 5th place spot in that AG!

Race #3 Ronald McDonald Half Marathon, Iowa City, May 5

First, an explanatory note about PR's.

SR has informed me that when you enter your 70's you actually cease to be an "old fart" and transition to the exalted status of a "gin-u-wine museum quality antique fart." At that point, PR's become meaningless numbers lost in the mists of time.

A "victory" is a race in which one improves on a mark set last week or last month. If you happen to better a time recorded last year, it's a "glorious triumph"!

Such was SR's blessed circumstance in the Ronald McDonald half. His time of 2:08:44 (9:50 pace) knocked over a minute off his best mark for that distance last year. Again, the weather was ideal.

SR at the start... Just a face - and a pair of very blue shoes - lost in the crowd.

SR at the finish, feeling small and lonely.

Race #4 Lace up For Learning 10K (NOT!)

At least they were up front about the distance anomaly. Their internet blurb and start line announcement made it clear the distance was actually 6.32 miles. Apparently this has always been the case.

Also, it was hilly as hell and the winds were 20-30 mph with gusts to 40, leading to a bizarre race finish for poor SR.

The finish line became momentarily airborne as he approached.

I kid you not! A gust of wind levitated the timing mat, which hovered briefly, kite-like, tethered by the cables. SR slowed to a near stop as the race officials scurried around trying to stabilize things.

They got it re-positioned, and were trying to stand on the corners.

Just as SR sprinted across the line, a corner broke free, and our hapless hero collided with the gentleman trying to remedy the situation.

No harm done, but SR's time is a matter of some conjecture. 58:10 is a good ballpark figure..

Race #5 Marion Art Festival Half Marathon, May 18

This was the finale of SR's five race festival..

It was a relatively cool 65 degrees at the start, and the first half of the race was along flat, shady, city streets. This prompted SR to make the classic newbie mistake of going out too fast, leading to a load of suffering down the pike.

Yep, the last half was in full sun, on rolling country roads, and the temp was now mid-70s! FOOL!

After a lot of walking, the early pace in the low 9:00 range was history, and the final time was 2:09:33, for a pace of 9:53.

So there you have it.. 5 weeks, 5 races.

Some fun, some folly, but a lot of running!

Hmm... It wouldn't surprise me if the goofball geezer made it 6 in a row!

Congratulations to SR on the marathon finish! You went for that BQ courageously, and fell short, which is still very admirable! The events at Boston affected me deeply too. I want to shoot for a BQ, but I know that my chances of a 3:10 are fairly slim. Great to hear from you and your fabulous racing! Lots of good stuff here!

Congratulations to SR on the marathon finish! You went for that BQ courageously, and fell short, which is still very admirable! The events at Boston affected me deeply too. I want to shoot for a BQ, but I know that my chances of a 3:10 are fairly slim. Great to hear from you and your fabulous racing! Lots of good stuff here!

The BQ time for my new age group is 4:40, which sounds quite doable...until I try to do it!

5 races in 5 weeks. That's pretty old school. I mean no one does that anymore. (So are you SR's RR guy, or are you his PR guy?)

SR is as "old school" as they come, a relic of a bygone era, a Garmin-less luddite, a painfully ponderous pontificator, etc. ad nauseam. I think of myself as a helpful gadfly, but he sees me simply as a pain in his behind.

Wow! That's a lot of racing for SR!! Congratulations to him!!!! Now the blue shoes did indeed help him stand out in his picture, but I'd know that hat anywhere! Or at least I think I would... it actually doesn't look as floppy as I recall hehe

Wow! That's a lot of racing for SR!! Congratulations to him!!!! Now the blue shoes did indeed help him stand out in his picture, but I'd know that hat anywhere! Or at least I think I would... it actually doesn't look as floppy as I recall hehe

That hat is totally floppy, has holes in several non-critical areas, and is stained and moldy.

JJ, are you sure you're just a jester and not a voodoo doll? I mean, geez Louise, a "crotch cramp"? And a finishing mat kite? I suspect some of those holes in "non-critical places" were practice runs from your hat pin.

JJ, are you sure you're just a jester and not a voodoo doll? I mean, geez Louise, a "crotch cramp"? And a finishing mat kite? I suspect some of those holes in "non-critical places" were practice runs from your hat pin.

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